Conveying device with a magnetic coupling

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a conveying device having a first and a second conveyor belt and a moveable turnout which directs a flow of products onto the first and/or second conveyor belt.

CLAIM OF BENEFIT OF FILING DATE

The present application claims the benefit of the filing date of GermanPatent Application DE 10 2012 010 802.8, filed Jun. 1, 2012, thecontents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a conveying device having a first andat least one second conveyor belt and a moveable turnout which directs aflow of products onto the first and/or second conveyor belt.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conveying devices of the generic type are adequately known from theprior art and are used, for example, for the buffer storage of productsand/or for the completion of batches which consist of a multiplicity ofindividual items, and/or formats. In this context, a turnout, inparticular a seesaw, which preferably also has a conveying means, ismoved to and fro between the conveyor belts in order to direct productsto or away from one of the conveyor belts, as required. It is inparticular when the seesaw moves towards one of the transport belts thatthere is an increased risk of accidents for the operators.

It was thus the object of the present invention to provide a conveyingdevice which does not have the disadvantages of the prior art.

The object is achieved by a conveying device having a first and at leastone further conveyor belt and a moveable turnout which has a drive andwhich directs a flow of products onto the first and/or the furtherconveyor belt or away from there, the turnout having a, preferablyreversible, predetermined opening point which, in the case of anoverload, prevents personal injury or property damage.

The statements made in relation to this subject of the present inventionalso apply to the other subjects of the present invention and viceversa.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a conveying device having a first andat least one further conveyor belt. These conveyor belts may beprovided, for example, above one another or beside one another. Aturnout, for example a seesaw, is located between the conveyor belts,and directs the arriving flow of products onto the first and/or thefurther conveyor belt. The conveying device according to the inventionmay have a second turnout which directs the products away from theconveyor belts again. According to the invention, each turnout isprovided with a drive which moves said turnout to and fro between thetwo conveyor belts.

According to the invention, the conveying device now has a predeterminedopening point, preferably a reversible predetermined opening point, thatis to say a predetermined opening point which is easily repairable, inparticular a predetermined opening point which is self-repairing. Bymeans of the predetermined opening point, two parts are separated. Inthe event of an overload on the turnout, for example when the turnoutimpinges on an obstacle, this predetermined opening point preventsinjury to operators and/or property damage to one of the conveyor beltsor the turnout.

An overload in the sense of the invention occurs when forces and/ormomenta which exceed the usual level required during operation arenecessary in order to, for example, move the turnout. Such overloadevents occur, for example, when the turnout impinges on an obstacle.

According to the invention, the predetermined opening point is amagnetic coupling. In the event of an overload, those parts of themagnetic coupling of the conveying device according to the inventionwhich are magnetically connected to one another are separated from oneanother. As soon as the overload discontinues again, these parts can bejoined together again and are connected again by the magnetic forces,and the conveying device is fully operational again. In particular, themagnetic coupling is self-repairing. The magnetic coupling is an exampleof a reversible predetermined opening point. The magnetic couplingpreferably has at least one, preferably two magnets which are separablefrom one another in the event of an overload.

Preferably, the predetermined opening point is located between the driveand the turnout. For example, the drive is a linear drive with a pistonand a cylinder. Here, the predetermined opening point is particularlypreferably located in the region of the piston.

The magnetic coupling is preferably provided in the region of a shaft,in particular a drive shaft, and here preferably provided between thedrive and the turnout. The maximum torque which is transferable islimited by the magnetic coupling.

Alternatively, the predetermined opening point is provided in a rodassembly if the tensile force in the rod assembly becomes too great, twoparts of the predetermined opening point separate.

The turnout is preferably provided in multiple parts and has a base partand one, preferably front, section facing the conveyor belts, said frontsection being provided moveably, preferably pivotably, in relation tothe base part. The predetermined opening point is particularlypreferably located between this front section and the turnout. This may,for example, positively prevent the operators from trapping theirfingers between the turnout and one of the conveyor belts and/or theturnout or its drive from being damaged.

The predetermined opening point is preferably self-closing, that is tosay self-repairing, upon discontinuation of the overload.Self-closing/self-repairing according to the invention means that theparts of the predetermined opening device which have separated in theevent of an overload automatically reconnect with one another and thatthe conveying device according to the invention thus regains its fulloperability. This preferred embodiment of the present invention has theadvantage that the predetermined opening point repairs itself as soon asthe obstacle has been removed.

The conveying device preferably has a sensor which detects theactivation of the predetermined opening point. This sensor transmits asignal to a controller such that the latter recognizes that theconveying device is not operational. As soon as the predeterminedopening device has been repaired again, the signal from the sensor iscancelled and the conveying device may continue its operation.

A further subject of the present invention is a method for securing acomponent having a predetermined opening point which has two parts whichseparate from one another in the event of an overload, wherein the twoparts automatically join together again upon discontinuation of theoverload.

The statements made in relation to this subject of the present inventionalso apply to the other subjects of the present invention and viceversa.

The method according to the invention has the advantage that thepredetermined opening point repairs itself as soon as the obstacle hasbeen removed.

Preferably, a drive is provided which brings both parts of thepredetermined opening point back together again after their separation.The drive preferably pulls or pushes apart the two parts of thepredetermined opening point in one direction of movement in the event ofan overload. If the direction of movement of the drive is then reversed,the drive automatically joins the two parts together again. The movementof the drive is preferably linear or rotatory.

Gravity preferably brings both elements together again after theirseparation. As soon as the obstacle which has caused the overload eventhas been removed, one part of the predetermined opening point movestowards the other as a result of gravity, thereby joining the two partsof the predetermined opening point together again.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following, the inventions are described with reference to FIGS. 1to 5. These descriptions are merely exemplary and do not limit thegeneral idea of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows the conveying device according to the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a turnout.

FIGS. 3 to 5 show a further embodiment of a turnout.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows the conveying device 1 according to the invention. This hasa first and a second conveyor belt 2, 3 which in the present case arelocated one above the other. The person skilled in the art willrecognize that the conveying device may also have more than two conveyorbelts. Each conveyor belt 2, 3 preferably has a driven endless belt ordriven endless belts which preferably circulate around at least tworollers. Preferably, at least one of the rollers is driven. Locatedbetween the two conveyor belts 2, 3 is a turnout 4 by means of which itis possible to direct an incoming flow of products (not illustrated)onto the lower and/or the upper conveyor belt 2, 3. A segregation of theincoming flow of products is desirable, for example, in order to removeproducts and/or to store them temporarily on one of the conveyor belts.In the present case, the turnout 4 is provided pivotably about a pivotjoint 5. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the conveying device 1 according tothe invention may have a further turnout 4, which makes it possible inthe present case to transfer products from the conveyor belt 3 onto theconveyor belt 2. Each turnout 4 preferably has a driven endless belt ordriven belts which preferably circulate about at least two rollers.Preferably, one of the rollers is driven.

FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of a turnout 4. In the present case, theturnout 4 is borne, depending on length, by at least one axial bearing9. The movement of the turnout 4 is symbolized by the double arrow 8. Aturnout of this type is particularly suited to conveyor belts 2, 3 whichare located beside one another. The movement of the turnout 4 in thepresent case takes place by way of a drive (not illustrated) which, forexample, has a piston 6 which moves the turnout towards the right andthe left. The predetermined opening point 7, in the present case in theform of two permanent magnets 20, are provided here on this piston. Ifthe force which is required to move the turnout 4 from left to right istoo great, the two permanent magnets 20 detach from one another and theturnout 4 is not moved any farther. In this manner, an injury to anoperator of the conveying device according to the invention and/orproperty damage to the turnout 4 or to one of the conveyor belts 2, 3may be positively prevented. As soon as the piston 6 then moves againfrom left to right, the two parts, in this case of the permanent magnets20, of the predetermined opening point 7 come into contact with oneanother again, such that the predetermined opening point is repairedagain and the turnout 4 is duly operable again. As a result, there isonly a minimal loss of production on the part of the conveying device 1according to the invention.

In FIGS. 3 to 5, another embodiment of the turnout 4 of the conveyingdevice 1 according to the invention is illustrated. As can be seen inparticular in FIG. 4, the turnout 4 in this case is provided pivotablyabout a pivot bearing 13 in order to direct an incoming flow of productsonto the conveyor belt 3 and/or the conveyor belt 2. The turnout 4 isrotationally driven clockwise and anti-clockwise, in the present case bythe drive 6, here a linear drive. In the present case, the turnout 4 hason its end which faces the conveyor belts a movable component 4.1 whichis pivotably mounted about a pivot axle 11 which is provided on the basepart of the turnout 4. Details of this mounting may be seen inparticular in FIG. 3. It is clearly evident that the front end 4.1 ofthe turnout 4 is mounted pivotably about the pivot bearing 11, it isfurther evident that the turnout 4 in the present case is provided intwo parts. The separation of the two parts occurs at an angle of 90° tothe pivot axle 13. Each part of the turnout 4 may be individuallypivoted or both parts may be collectively pivoted about the pivot axle13. Each front end 4.1 of the turnout 4 is individually secured on thebase part of the turnout 4 by a securing means 10 which prevents thefront end 4.1 from automatically pivoting in relation to the base partof the turnout 4. It is only in the event of en overload that the frontend 4.1 is intended to pivot in relation to the base part of the turnout4. For this purpose, a permanent magnet 20, which is mounted on the basepart of the turnout 4, is provided between the two securing pins andprevents the front end 4.1 from moving in relation to the base partunder operational loads. The force-fit between the permanent magnet andthe respective securing means represents the predetermined openingpoint. In the present case, one permanent magnet 20 is provided for bothsecuring pins 10. The person skilled in the an will understand that eachsecuring means may have its own permanent magnet. In the event of anoverload, the securing means detaches itself from the permanent magnet,and the front end 4.1 may pivot in relation to the base part of theturnout. In such a manner, personal injury and/or property damage areavoided. As soon as the overload is discontinued, the securing means isagain connected to the permanent magnet, for example by force of gravityacting on the front end 4.1, and the proper operation of the turnout isrestored. Under overload, the predetermined opening point functions inboth directions of rotation.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

-   1 Conveying device-   2 First conveyor belt-   3 Second conveyor belt-   4 Turnout, component-   4.1 Front end of the turnout, front end of the component-   5 Pivot bearing of the turnout-   6 Drive-   7 Reversible predetermined opening point, magnetic coupling-   8 Direction of motion-   9 Axial bearing-   10 Securing means, securing pin-   11 Pivot bearing of the font end 4.1-   12 Bearing of the securing means-   13 Pivot bearing of the turnout-   14 Roller-   20 Two permanent magnets

The invention claimed is:
 1. A conveying device comprising: a firstconveyor belt, at least one further conveyor belt, and a moveableturnout which has a drive and which directs a flow of products onto thefirst conveyor belt and/or the further conveyor belt or away from there,wherein the turnout has a reversible predetermined opening point which,in the case of an overload, prevents personal injury or property damage,the predetermined opening point being a magnetic coupling.
 2. Theconveying device according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic coupling hasat least one magnet.
 3. The conveying device according to claim 1,wherein the predetermined opening point is located between the drive andthe turnout.
 4. The conveying device according to claim 1, wherein theturnout has a front section which is movable on the turnout.
 5. Theconveying device according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined openingpoint is located between the front section and the turnout.
 6. Theconveying device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined openingpoint is provided in a region of a shaft, of the turnout.
 7. Theconveying device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined openingpoint is self-closing upon discontinuation of the overload.
 8. Theconveying device according to claim 1, wherein a sensor is providedwhich detects activation of the predetermined opening point.
 9. Theconveying device according to claim 3 wherein the turnout has a frontsection which is pivotable on the turnout.
 10. The conveying deviceaccording to claim 9, wherein the predetermined opening point is locatedbetween the front section and the turnout.
 11. The conveying deviceaccording to claim 3, wherein the predetermined opening point isprovided in a region of the drive shaft, of the turnout.
 12. Theconveying device according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined openingpoint is provided in a region of the drive shaft, of the turnout. 13.The conveying device according to claim 5, wherein the predeterminedopening point is provided in a region of a shaft, of the turnout. 14.The conveying device according to claim 3, wherein the predeterminedopening point is self-closing upon discontinuation of the overload. 15.The conveying device according to claim 5, wherein the predeterminedopening point is self-closing upon discontinuation of the overload. 16.The conveying device according to claim 6, wherein the predeterminedopening point is self-closing upon discontinuation of the overload. 17.The conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic couplinghas two magnets that are separable from one another during an overloadevent.
 18. The conveying device according to claim 1, wherein anoverload event separates the magnetic coupling so that injury tooperators and/or property damage to one of the conveyor belts or theturnout are prevented, and when the overload discontinues, the magneticcoupling is reconnected by magnetic forces and the conveying device isfully operational again.